HC notice on ‘high cut-off’ for SC candidates in PCS (judicial) exam

A Punjab and Haryana high court bench on Thursday issued a notice to the Punjab government, Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC), and the high court administration on a petition seeking relaxation for the Scheduled Caste (SC) candidates in the qualifying score of the 2015 Punjab Civil Service (judicial) examinations.

The PPSC has advertised 118 posts of PCS (judicial) officer, of which 13 are reserved for the Balmiki and Mazhbi Sikhs.(HT Representative Photo)

A Punjab and Haryana high court bench on Thursday issued a notice to the Punjab government, Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC), and the high court administration on a petition seeking relaxation for the Scheduled Caste (SC) candidates in the qualifying score of the 2015 Punjab Civil Service (judicial) examinations.

The response of various parties has been sought by July 12 based on a public-interest petition filed by the Rashtriya Valmiki Sabha state unit. An aggregate score of at least 45% in the main written examination is required to advance to the viva-voce section. The high court and the PPSC conduct these examinations.

The PPSC has advertised 118 posts of PCS (judicial) officer, of which 13 are reserved for the Balmiki and Mazhbi Sikhs. The petition says that a “tough cut-off limit of marks” has allowed only two candidates from these categories to qualify for viva voce. Resultantly, 11 of the 13 reserved vacancies remained vacant, and would have to be carried forward in case the cut-off criterion is not relaxed suitably.

“The concept of reservation loses all its significance, if the cut-off is maintained so high that candidates of the SC category cannot be selected,” HC Arora, counsel for the petitioner, had argued.